NEWPORT (Shropshire): Both the league-leading NRBL A and chasing Horns B faced tricky matches in week 19 of the Newport & District Pool League, with the leaders entertaining the Barley Mow and the pursuers away at the Railway Tavern.

Mick Beech fired the first salvo for the league leaders, NRBL A, against Martin Porter, but Ant Winfield stunned Andy Miles to level the match. Wayne Dodd and Ant Heathcote got the better of Gary Bolton and Kim Wan Loi to make it 3-1 and the defending champions held on in the doubles to seal a 5-1 win.

George Allen, Neil Dale, Mick Manning and Colin Pink won the first four singles racks against Chris Hull, Stu Morrey, an unlucky Dave Bristow and Greg Quinn to seal the points for the Horns B at the Tavern, but Allen and Dale lost to Morrey and Quinn and the home team sealed a consolation frame.

Sixth met third in the clash between the Sutherland Arms and NRBL B in Tibberton and the visitors were forced to rule out Jon Auliffe’s contribution instead of being penalised six points for fielding an ineligible player.

Ian Swinnerton and Matt Mansell secured wins over Liam Matthews and Jack Jones and, despite league average sensation Simon Walley getting the better of Trevor Smith in rack four, the villagers held on to seal the two points, even though Jones and Matthews prevailed in the final frame.

King’s Head A were forced to work hard for both points to retain their title push at the Wheatsheaf. Mick Collins, Irene Whittington, Ross Goodchild and Ed Keenan did the damage in the singles frames, but Graham Tigwell and Goodchild succumbed in rack five as the Chetwynd Aston team pulled a frame back.

Shakespeare A hoped to bounce back from their thrashing at the hands of Horns B with a win over their B team at Upper Bar and they responded in superb fashion. Richard Hendy and Andy Potter put the ‘home’ side into a 2-0 lead over Lauren Heathcote and Jess Hilditch and, when Russ Woodhouse failed to capitalise on a clumsy foul by Neil Perkins, the A team player held on to make it 3-0.

Ross Richards-Jones sealed the two points with a useful win over Darren Lowe and honours were shared in the doubles with Woodhouse clearing well against Richards-Jones and Ben Holmes in the fifth frame.

LSC at the Tav continued their push towards the top three with a 4-2 win at Horns A in Gnosall. Martyn Holford edged his frame against LSC debutant Nick Porter, but Greg Heathcote, John Williams and Paul Trevor redressed the balance to make it 1-3 with wins over Charles Minors, Jake Anstey and Dai Smith. Smith and Holford won the fifth rack for the Gnosall side but Williams and Trevor sealed the points for the visitors.

The Haberdashers Arms entertained Junction A in Knighton and the Norbury side prevailed with the loss of two frames. The Navigation picked up both points and their run of good form continued with a 2-4 at bottom club King’s Head B.

Junction B are aiming to win the Newport Plate and won their second successive game with a fortunate 5-1 triumph over Royal Navy Club in Norbury. They now lead the Plate by two points after two games.